Anti-fungal potentials of extracellular metabolites of Western Ghats isolated Streptomyces sp. NII 1006 against moulds and yeasts.

Realization of hazardious effects of chemical fungicides has led to an interest in the usage of biocontrol agents. The present study, therefore, evaluates the biocontrol efficacy of Western Ghats (India) soil bacterial isolates. A potential strain NII 1006 was evaluated for its antagonistic property against a diverse range of moulds and yeasts. The strain was characterized morphologically, biochemically and molecularly, which revealed the isolate belonged to Streptomyces genus. Organic solvent extracts of NII 1006 culture filtrates inhibited the growth of the test pathogens indicating that growth suppression was due to extracellular anti-fungal metabolites present in the culture filtrates. The strain produced extracellular chitinase enzyme in addition to some stable partially purified anti-fungal compounds. Morphological changes such as hyphae degradation into debris and abnormal shapes were observed in test fungi and yeast grown on potato dextrose broth that contained the NII 1006 culture filtrate. The cell free supernatant has a tolerance to wide range of pH, temperature and enzymes such as lipase and protease. The biocontrol potential of NII 1006 strain may be correlated significantly with their ability to produce antibiotics as well as extracellular hydrolytic enzymes particularly chitinolytic enzyme.

A Case of Adult Polyglucosan Body Disease

Adult polyglucosan body disease (APBD) is a rare neurological disease, characterized by adult onset (fifth to seventh decades), progressive sensorimotor or pure motor peripheral neuropathy, upper motor neuron symptoms, neurogenic bladder, and cognitive impairment. APBD is confirmed by a sural nerve biopsy that shows the widespread presence of polyglucosan bodies in the nerve. We report a 70 year old male patient who exhibited progressive weakness in all extremities and dementia. His electrodiagnostic studies showed sensorimotor polyneuropathy and muscle pathology that consisted of polyglucosan bodies located in small peripheral nerves. This is the first case of APBD reported in Korea.

Non-cellulosic mixed linkage beta-D-glucan in sorghum, Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench--localization and biological activity studies.

Fluorescence of Calcofluor and Congo Red was observed in stained sections of sorghum grain (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench), especially in the sub-aleurone cells indicating the presence of mixed linkage beta-D-glucan. Relatively less fluorescence intensity was observed in the single layered (approximately 20 microns thick) aleurone. Alkali extracted beta-D-glucan (fraction 2) of sorghum showed 30% activation of rat peritoneal macrophages (in vitro) at 100 micrograms ml-1 concentration in 10 min. This activation was found mediated mainly through PLA2 pathway. A phagocytic index k of 0.102 +/- 0.008 was observed in vivo carbon clearance test in mice in the group treated with fraction 2. Accumulation of colloidal carbon particles in spleen and liver of mice was moderate in this group, compared to control.